Why Do So Many American Women Die From Childbirth?

            For most of human history, pregnancy and childbirth was the cause of many women’s deaths. In the modern era, this should be an extremely rare event, and in most of the developed world, it is.             About 800 women in the United States die every year during pregnancy, delivery or the six weeks that […] Read more »

Trying to Remember What I Don’t Remember

            A woman stopped me in the post office the other day to tell me how much she liked my last column. I politely said thank you, though I had no idea what she was talking about. I could not for the life of me remember what I had written only a few days before. […] Read more »

Skids in Production for Filtration Upgrade

            In his Water Treatment Plant update during Tuesday’s monthly meeting of the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission, Tata & Howard engineer Jon Gregory summarized the past couple of months of final review regarding the main elements of a construction project that later this year will replace a long-standing, water-filtration system with new, state-of-the-art […] Read more »

‘Lil’ Shop’ Has Cast Eager to Take on Edgy Roles

Old Rochester Regional High School senior Jackson Veugen isn’t considering a career in dentistry any time soon, but Veugen has embraced his role as Orin, the sadistic dentist in ORR’s upcoming spring performance of “Little Shop of Horrors.”             The ORR Drama Club will take the stage on March 21, 22 and 23 at 7:00 […] Read more »

Holy Ghost Grounds Revival

            As their memories fade into sepia tones like old photographs of childhoods spent working the farm and visiting relatives, the Nunes sisters of River Road, Dottie (Nunes) and Kathy (Hohne), and their cousin Adele Raphael discussed their growing-up years in Mattapoisett via cell phone.             A high point of those years on River Road […] Read more »

Who Will Care for Me When I’m Old and Gray?

            Every day, 12,000 Americans turn 65. In 2022, 58,000,000 were over 65 – 17% of the population – and estimates are that by 2040, seniors will make up 22% of the population.             While most people over 65 are healthy, as we age illnesses and frailty become increasingly common, and growing numbers need at […] Read more »

Wondering What to Write About

            I’ve been sitting here for what seems like hours trying to think of something to write about for this week’s column. I considered writing about suspenders, but that idea didn’t hold up. Then belts came to mind, but that story had too many holes.             Looking into the refrigerator at lunchtime, I thought I […] Read more »

DeSousa: Going Underground Would Save Trees

            Public meetings in Mattapoisett rarely require overflow rooms to accommodate attendees, but such was the case when the Mattapoisett Tree Committee held its February 29 meeting. The Fire Station training room was packed, requiring Town Administrator Mike Lorenco to open up Town Hall. A streaming of the meeting via Zoom granted those audience members […] Read more »

Do I Really Need All These Pills?

            A prior post discussed the importance of taking medication as prescribed, focusing on medications that were intended to prevent things like strokes, heart attacks and fractured hips. There is another side to the coin.             Doctors are increasingly aware of the problem of “polypharmacy,” taking a lot of pills. Almost 60% of all Americans […] Read more »

Wading into Elective Office

            Election time is upon us in the Tri-Town area, and nomination papers are out. So far it appears there has been no great stampede to run for office. But there is still time.             My first foray into public office was on an appointed committee. I was recruited to join a local Bylaw Study […] Read more »